9 Things You Should Do Before Turning 50

Many people don’t like talking about their ages, especially when they are in their fifties. Some reckon that turning fifty is like giving up on great things in life. Then again, life is not all about bad things. Before you reach this age, there are things that you can do to make your incoming years more fun and meaningful.

Burn Your Candles

You’re probably one of those who like to keep scented candles given by your friends and relatives, but you won’t use them because you are saving them for special occasions. Now that you’re turning fifty, you have all the rights to burn these candles. Have a relaxing bath with these burning candles and let them serve as a reminder about the light that you bring to the world.

Get Fluffy Towels

You’re turning fifty and it’s something that you should celebrate; it is not a countdown of all the years past, but rather a celebration of a plentiful life. Indulge in the softer and finer things in life, and make yourself more comfortable at all times of the day. It’s time for you to get fluffy, soft towels that you can use comfortably each time you bath. Remember, enjoy life while it lasts.

Compile Photos

Your pictures will help you reminisce the good and bad times in your life. Make a scrapbook or put them together in a photo album. Your collections may not only be inspirational to you, but will also serve as a keepsake for your grandchildren in the years to come.

Bond with a Friend

Life can be very dry without a best friend. Take time to call your best friend. Hanging out for a cup of tea or two isn’t bad, too. Keep your best friend’s phone handy, in case you need someone to confide with as you reach your fifth decade.

Use Your Best China Plates, Cups and Saucers

Don’t hesitate to use your China plates. You can use them on your fiftieth birthday or every weekend when your family and friends are around. You deserve the best, so take the nicest plates out of the cupboard and enjoy.

Accept the Difference

You’ve aged, but it’s not the end of the world. You can still live a happy life if you accept the kind of person that you are now. You may look different outside, but you can still be young at heart for as long as you like.

Let Go of the Past

If you have regrets about the past, now is the best time to let go. These regrets should turn into lessons and wonderful memories. If you have friends or relatives visiting you, you can share inspiring stories about your life and help them become better people.

Create a Masterpiece

There are many kinds of artworks that you can do, even when you turn fifty. You can make quilts, bake cakes or even paint. Think of yourself as a free bird that can do anything.

Enjoy Life

You have to enjoy things by yourself, too. Sometimes, others are busy with their own lives so they won’t be able to get in touch with you. Don’t let yourself feel bad. Try to enjoy life as much as you can and celebrate who you are.

These are just a few things that you can do as you reach fifty. The most important thing that you should bear in mind is the fact that you are blessed and special, no matter how young or old you are.

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Positive Thinking and Achieving Goals

We all here from many people and many sources that the power of positive thinking can help us achieve all our dreams.  From people like Dr. Norman Vincent Peale to Oprah Winfrey, we are encouraged to think positive. Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” New York University psychologist Gabrielle Oettingen might find this closer to the mark. But as she explains in her book, “Researching Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation”, rather than positive thinking being the key to reaching our dreams and goals it may be exactly the opposite.

Mounting evidence indicates that spending a great deal of time thinking about your dreams actually makes you less likely to start putting in the work needed to achieve them.  Oettingen has distilled the results of her years of research into a four-step plan that goal-oriented people may use in place of positive thinking alone.  The plan’s whimsical acronym spells WOOP. Those of us who truly plan to achieve our dreams need to WOOP it up.

WISH

What is your wish? What do you really want? The first step is defining your goal. It can be what you want to accomplish tomorrow or your goal for the year. It just needs to be something you truly wish to accomplish; something real.

OUTCOME

With your desired goal firmly in mind, ask yourself the following question: If I fulfill this wish, what is the best possible outcome? In this second step, positive thinking is allowed and is helpful. This is the time to allow yourself to become immersed in the daydream.  Let yourself dream about the best possible outcomes.

OBSTACLES

Many people tend to stop naturally at step two. They get bogged down in the positive dreaming. After you fantasize a while, you need to be sure to bring your mind back down to the ground and to reality. Now you ask yourself this question: “What is it that holds me back from achieving/experiencing my wish/outcome?” Imagine that obstacle. You have to understand what stands in the way of achieving your dream before you can overcome it.

PLAN

When you know what you wish for, the outcome towards which you are moving and the potential obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your goals/dream, you have the knowledge you need to make a plan for obtaining your goal. Planning will enable you to execute the work needed to obtain your dream.

“If you dream it, you can do it” is true if you know exactly what your dream is, what outcome you want, the obstacles you must overcome to achieve it, and can make then execute a plan to work toward your goal.  When you successfully WOOP, it is okay to add a little positive thinking as well.

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8 Mobile Apps And Services That Can Benefit Your Mental Health

People often say that digital gadgets like mobile phones are not good for mental health. Many are addicted to them and sometimes unable to get on with their lives because of their attachment to their devices. On the other hand, there are many things that people can do to make their attachment to their phones a positive experience. People who are suffering from depression and anxiety can actually use these things to recover and feel relief from stress. Below are some apps that you can download on your phone to benefit your mental health.

Lantern

If you need one-on-one coaching, but don’t have time to go to a therapist, you can download the Lantern app and utilize their user-friendly coaching platform. From there, you can take exams that will help you assess your mental health and follow therapy techniques created by professionals in cognitive behavior. You can also download this program on your computer if you wish to save your mobile phone’s memory.

Optimism

The name of the app itself is very positive, which makes its purpose pretty clear. Optimism has been launched to help those who wish to know what causes their mental and emotional tensions. As the signs are detected early, recovery measures can be worked out as soon as possible.

Crisis Text Line

This 24-hours text line offers support to people with mental and emotional struggles. This service is free and has been founded by DoSomething.org contributors. All you have to do to use this service is get your phone, text the word START and send it to 741741.

Talkspace

This app is available to Android and iOS users. It is designed to work like an informal chat or text hotline where people can share their anxiety concerns with licensed therapists. The subscription costs $25 to $30 a week for message and video therapy.

Personal Zen

For those who don’t like talking much about their stress factors, there is an app called Personal Zen, which can help anyone alleviate stress through relaxing activities. The creators of this app based the activities on proven techniques used in therapy clinics. Whether you are having a bad work day or just wanting to give you mind a rest, this app can help you out.

Other Apps

There are other apps that you can try such as Mood 24/7, MoodTune and PTSD Coach. They are also meant to help those who are suffering from mental and emotional issues. There’s no need to panic to feel better though. You can look for resources and do things at your own pace. As you read more helpful materials from American Southwest Magazine, you can take notes and look for pieces of advice that may work for you.

Things You Should Tell Yourself Before Going To Bed

You might find several nights where you are unable to fall asleep because your mind is flooded with worrying thoughts that only encourage negative physical responses such as anxiety and stress. To reach a state of calm before bed, get in the habit of practicing certain mantras before falling asleep.

“I’m thankful for……..”

Practicing gratitude in your everyday life is beneficial in many ways. Being continuously thankful will leave you feeling a sense of happiness that is followed by more positive thoughts, strength in your relationships and a more efficient immune system. Bedtime provides a great opportunity for you to look upon all that you are grateful for to create a shift away from any negative thoughts.

“Let it be.”

You can suffer a great deal by holding on to any negative issues such as conflict or personal grudges. This is especially true at bedtime if you are unable to release nagging matters or unresolved problems. Tell yourself to use the hours of sleep to clear any sort of anxiousness related to significant troubles. This restful time can be used as a personal safeguard to approach pending issues calmly and rationally in the morning.

“I am strong.”

Focusing on everything that is wrong about yourself seems to be human nature. However, you can easily alter this belief by honing in on your greatest strengths and abilities before going to bed each night. Place all of your energy and attention into practicing self-acceptance. View bedtime as a step closer to a new beginning that each morning presents.

“How can I make this better?”

How to improve upon any sort of process or practice is a quandary that you will face throughout life. Go ahead and ask yourself to come up with a solution to something that you might be struggling with before going to bed. Often times the process of dreaming can subconsciously produce an answer that you might not have come up with while awake.

“I will find calm.”

This mantra speaks volumes and should be repeated while falling into a deep restful sleep. You might deviate from your path and start to stir up worrisome or negative thoughts. Just remember to refocus and repeat this mantra until you have reached peaceful rest.

Distressing thoughts permeate the brain to continuously linger throughout the night causing a sense of restlessness. Unresolved or negative issues hinder your sleep rhythm and you never quite reach your recommended hours of restful sleep. Be mindful of the listed mantras to move away from negativity and fall asleep soundly.

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